Combination ski boot holder and torque indicators



Nov. 10, 1964 P. ISAAC Filed Dec. 20, 1962 COMBINATION SKI BOOT HOLDER AND TORQUE INDICATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 5

Nov. 10, 1964 P. ISAAC 3,156,114

COMBINATION SKI BOOT HOLDER AND TORQUE INDICATORS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill United States Patent 3,156,114 CGMBENATEON SKI BOOT HOLDER AND TGRQUE INDICATORS Peter Isaac, 9 Crown Hill Place, Apt. 410, Toronto 18, Ontario, Canada Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,133 4 Claims. (Cl. 73-133) The present invention relates to improvements in the combination ski boot holder and torque indicator as described in my copending U.S.A. patent application bearing Serial Number 122,882.

The object of this invention is to provide torque indicating means which are not so sensitive to the abuse which these devices generally are subjected to, which is not unusual considering the ruggedness of the skiing sport. The boot holder is usually stored in the trunk of the car during transportation to and from the ski slopes and thereby comes in contact with other objects which may damage the indicating means. It is therefore essential that the indicating means be as rugged as possible in order to retain the reliability of the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the torque between the ski and boot when harnessed thereto may be determined by rotating the boot about its heel in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions with equal ease and accuracy. Although these torques are equal when the ski harness is faultless and usually checking the torque in one direction is suflicient, it is desirable to check these torques in both directions occasionally to detect faulty ski harnesses in the early stages of malfunctioning.

The invention will be more thoroughly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention which shows most of the essential details and the manner in which the device setting means may be stored in the side of the boot holder when not required.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along the lines 22 of FEGURE l which shows details of construction in the area of the boot toe moving means.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the lines 33 of FIGURE 2 which shows how the detachable device setting means may be installed in one of the journals when required.

FTGURE 4 is a plan representation of the invention showing how the device may be used for measuring both the clockwise and counterclockwise separating torques between the ski and boot about the heel thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along the linesS-S in FIGURE 4 showing the device setting means in position relative to the ski.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational representation of the in vention showing how the device may be used to measure the separating torque between the ski and boot about the toe thereof.

FIGURE 7 illustrates how my device may be used for holding a pair of ski boots.

In the drawings like characters of reference designate similar parts in the several figures.

At the outset I wish to briefly describe what constitutes the combination ski boot holder and torque indicator in my copending application. Generally such may be said to comprise an elongated supporting structure to which a pair of ski boots may be clamped in the manner shown in FIGURE 7 for preservation with heel retaining brackets and toe retaining clamps coupled with means for measuring the torque between a ski and boot when harnessed thereto. The torque measuring means comprise effort applying means, load moving means, boot toe mov- 3,156,114 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 ing means, torque indicating means and device setting means, but the latter means are permanently rotatably attached in a journal whereas in this invention they are detachable.

My invention relates to improvements which generally make the device as described more rugged and less susceptible to damage and to improvements in the load moving means making it possible to measure the clockwise and counterclockwise torques about the heel of the boot with greater accuracy than is possible with the device described beforehand.

Before describing the manner in which my invention is used it will be described in sufiicient detail so that improvements referred to beforehand will become apparent. The invention consists of a supporting structure 1 to which a pair of boots may be clamped for preservation as already indicated, load moving means 5 which are merely extensions of the supporting structure base brackets 25 and 26, boot toe moving means 7 and 8 which are rotatably attached to the supporting structure, detachable device setting means 10, effort applying means comprising a resilient rod and handle assembly 3, and torque indicating means 11 comprising a pointer 14 and scale 12 on one face of the supporting structure and a pointer 29 and scale 30 on the opposite face as shown in FIGURE 7 The pointers 14 and 29 are attached to the effort applying means near the scales l2 and 30 respectively and are therefore not nearly so susceptible to damage as if attached to the base block 31 as is the case in the device set forth in my copending application. Likewise the scales are adjustably positioned on the supporting structure as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1 and may be positioned during manufacture by shifting the scales in the elongated slots 13.

The device setting means 10 comprise a stirrup 32 and a pivot 23 which is designed to engage either in journal 21 or 20 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. The shoulder 24 of the pivot 23 provides means whereby the stirrup is properly positioned with respect to the supporting structure when the device is used for torque measurement as will be described as this specification proceeds. The de vice setting means may be suitably disposed of when not required for torque measurement as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1. Recesses 19 and 18 are provided in the structure so that when the stirrup is retained by the stud 15 and nut 16 the stirrup is in a position where it is not readily damaged.

The boot toe moving means 7 and 8 are attached to the supporting structure and pivot on the journals 21 and 20 respectively. The journals also serve as rivets whereby the base brackets 25 and 26 are attached to the supporting structure. The base brackets have curled ends 27 for reasons which will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

The resilient rod and handle assembly 3 comprises a handle 9 and rod 4. One end of the rod is permanently secured in the base block 31 which is secured to the base brackets 25 and 26 by rivets 28.

The manner in which my invention is used to measure the torque about the toe of the boot is illustrated in FIG- URE 6. The load moving means 5 is placed between the heel 35 of the boot 39 and the ski 38. The device setting means 16 are not used in this test and may be left secured to the device as described beforehand. The boot toe moving means 7 and 8 are swung out of the way as shown. Effort is then applied to the handle 9 of the resilient rod and handle assembly. The device pivots on the curled ends 27 of the base brackets 25 and 26. The torque applied to the boot is indicated by the pointer 14 on scale 12 and by the pointer 29 on scale 30, if both scales are used. Effort is applied to the handle until the cable release mechanism 34 shown in FIGURE 4 releases. The indicated torque is noted. The mechanism may be adjusted, if necessary, until by trial and error it releases at the desired torque.

My invention may be used to measure the torque between the ski and boot about the heel thereof in two distinct ways. Describing first the way illustrated in FIG- URE 4, the counterclockwise torque about the heel is measured by placing the stirrup 32 under the ski 38 with the shoulder 22 bearing on the edge 40 of the ski. The boot toe moving means 7 is rotated to engage the toe of the boot as shown. The torque applied to the boot is indicated by the pointer 14 on the scale 12. The torque indicated when the toe piece 37 of the ski harness releases is noted and if necessary adjustment may be made thereto until by trial and error the toe piece releases at the desired torque.

To measure the clockwise torque about the heel of the boot the stirrup 32 is removed from the journal of the device and installed from the other end of the same journal. The device is then used from the other side of the ski as shown by the fragmentary dotted outline in FIG- URE 4, the torque being indicated by the pointer 29 on scale 30.

It will be mentioned here that the clockwise and counterclockwise torques referred to above are generally equal except when the toe piece 37 malfunctions. The measurements in both directions will detect whether the toe piece functions correctly apart from adjusting it at the right setting.

The clockwise torque about the heel of the boot may be measured in another way. The pivot 23 of the device setting means 10 may be placed in the other journal 21 and the other boot toe moving means 8 used to engage the toe of the boot with the shoulder 22 of the stirrup 32 engaging the edge 36 of the ski 38 in the opposite manner to that shown in FIGURE 5. The applied torque is then conveniently read on scale 12 and the scale 29 is not used at all.

It will be apparent that the scales 14 and 29 may be graduated in arbitrary, torque or force units and that the scales may have two indices, one for indicating the torque about the heel of the boot and the other about the toe of the boot. Two indices are required if an absolute meas urement is required because the moment arm of the device when used for torque measurement about the heel of the boot diflFers from the moment arm of the device when used for torque measurement about the toe of the boot.

As already indicated the scales may be graduated in force units. The measurements made may then be referred to as the faces required to separate the boot from the ski. That is in FIGURE 4, the measurement would be the force required to separate the boot from the ski when applied at the toe of the boot and in FIGURE 6, the measurement would be the force required to separate the boot from the ski when applied at the heel of the boot.

It will be pointed out here that structural modifications may readily be made to the invention as described. Not ably, the scale 12 may exchange places with the pointer 14. That is the scale may be attached to the resilient rod and handle assembly and the pointer may be attached to the supporting structure. Likewise, the scale and pointer 29, if used, may exchange places.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot of means for indicating the torque between a boot and ski harnessed thereto at least including a substantially fiat supporting structure against which at least one ski boot may be secured with retaining clamps, boot toe moving means rotatably connected to each corner of the same end of said supporting structure, device setting means comprising a detachable stirrup which may be selectively placed in journals located in the same corners in which said boot toe moving means are connected, effort applying means for exerting torque with said boot toe moving means, said effort applying means consisting of a resilient rod and handle assembly which is connected to the end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means and which projects from the opposite end of said supporting structure, and indicating means comprising a scale and pointer one of which is secured to said supporting structure and the other to said resilient rod and handle assembly, said indicating means indicating the clockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in one said journal and said effort applying means are actuated, and the counterclockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in the other said journal and said efiort applying means are actuated.

2. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot of means for indicating the torque between a boot and ski harnessed thereto at least including a substantially flat supporting structure against which at least one ski boot may be secured with retaining clamps, boot toe moving means rotatably connected to one corner of one end of said supporting structure, device setting means comprising a detachable stirrup which can be placed in a journal located in the same end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means, effort applying means for exerting torque with said boot toe moving means, said effort applying means consisting of a resilient rod and handle assembly which is connected to the end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means and which projects from the opposite end of said supporting structure, and a duplicate set of indicating means on opposite faces of said supporting structure, each said set of indicating means comprising a scale and pointer one of which is secured to said supporting structure and the other to said resilient rod and handle assembly, said indicating means indicating the clockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in said journal from one end thereof and said effort applying means are actutaed, and the counterclockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in said journal from the other end thereof and said effort applying means are actuated.

3. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot of means for indicating the torque between a boot and ski harnessed thereto at least including a substantially flat supporting structure against which at least one ski boot may be secured with retaining clamps, load moving means applicable between the heel of a boot and a ski when harnessed thereto, said load moving means projecting from one corner of one end of said supporting structure, boot toe moving means rotatably connected to each corner of the same end of said supporting structure having said load moving means, device setting means comprising a detachable stirrup which may be selectively placed in journals located in the same corners in which said boot toe moving means are connected, effort applying means for exerting torque with either said load moving means or said toe moving means, said effort applying means consisting of a resilient rod and handle assembly which is connected to the end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means and which projects from the opposite end of said supporting structure, and indicating means comprising a scale and pointer one of which is secured to said supporting structure and the other to said resilient rod and handle assembly, said indicating means indicating the clockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in one said journal and said effort applying means are actuated, and the counterclockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in the other said journal and said effort applying means are actuated, and said torque about the toe of said boot when said load moving means are applied and said effort applying means are actuated.

4. A device comprising the combination with a holder for at least one ski boot of means for indicating the torque between a boot and ski harnessed thereto at least including a substantially fiat supporting structure against which at least one ski boot may be secured with retaining clamps, load moving means applicable between the heel of a boot and a ski when harnessed thereto, said load moving means projecting from one corner of one end of said supporting structure, boot toe moving means rotatably connected to one corner of the same end of said supporting structure having said load moving means, device setting means comprising a detachable stirrup which can be placed in a journal located in the same end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means, elfort applying means for exerting torque with either said load moving means or said toe moving means, said eifort applying means consisting of a resilient rod and handle assembly which is connected to the end of said supporting structure having said boot toe moving means and which projects from the opposite end of said supporting structure, and a duplicate set of indicating means on opposite faces of said supporting structure, each said set of indicating means comprising a scale and pointer one of which is secured to said supporting structure and the other to said resilient rod and handle assembly, said indicating means indicating the clockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when said stirrup is placed in said journal from one thereof and said eflort applying means are actuated, and the counterclockwise direction of said torque about the heel of said boot when I said stirrup is, placed in said journal from the other end thereof and said effort applying means are actuated, and said torque about the toe of said boot when said load moving means are applied and said effort applying means are actuated.

No references cited. 

3. A DEVICE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION WITH A HOLDER FOR AT LEAST ONE SKI BOOT OF MEANS FOR INDICATING THE TORQUE BETWEEN A BOOT AND SKI HARNESSED THERETO AT LEAST INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AGAINST WHICH AT LEAST ONE SKI BOOT MAY BE SECURED WITH RETAINING CLAMPS, LOAD MOVING MEANS APPLICABLE BETWEEN THE HEEL OF A BOOT AND A SKI WHEN HARNESSED THERETO, SAID LOAD MOVING MEANS PROJECTING FROM ONE CORNER OF ONE END OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, BOOT TOE MOVING MEANS ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO EACH CORNER OF THE SAME END OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING SAID LOAD MOVING MEANS DEVICE SETTING MEANS COMPRISING A DETACHABLE STIRRUP WHICH MAY BE SELECTIVELY PLACED IN JOURNALS LOCATED IN THE SAME CORNERS IN WHICH SAID BOOT TOE MOVING MEANS ARE CONNECTED, EFFORT APPLYING MEANS FOR EXERTING TORQUE WITH EITHER SAID LOAD MOVING MEANS OR SAID TOE MOVING MEANS, SAID EFFORT APPLYING MEANS CONSISTING OF A RESILIENT ROD AND HANDLE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE END OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING SAID BOOT TOE MOVING MEANS AND WHICH PROJECTS FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, AND INDICATING MEANS COMPRISING A SCALE AND POINTER ONE OF WHICH IS SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND THE OTHER TO SAID RESILIENT ROD AND HANDLE ASSEMBLY, SAID INDICATING MEANS INDICATING THE CLOCKWISE DIRECTION OF SAID TORQUE ABOUT THE HEEL OF SAID BOOT WHEN SAID STIRRUP IS PLACED IN ONE SAID JOURNAL AND SAID EFFORT APPLYING MEANS ARE ACTUATED, AND THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION OF SAID TORQUE ABOUT THE HEEL OF SAID BOOT WHEN SAID STIRRUP IS PLACED IN THE OTHER SAID JOURNAL AND SAID EFFORT APPLYING MEANS ARE ACTUATED, AND SAID TORQUE ABOUT THE TOE OF SAID BOOT WHEN SAID LOAD MOVING MEANS ARE APPLIED AND SAID EFFORT APPLYING MEANS ARE ACTUATED. 